Bruce Harper photo
Lady Cat Mari Martinez passes the ball inside through a sea of blue jerseys of the George West Lady ‘Horns in Friday night’s tilt in Skidmore. The GW girls hung on for a close 47-44 win.

Bruce Harper photo
Lady Horn Kate Jimerson tries to shot over the heads of defending Lady Cats players during a Jan. 11 game against Skidmore Tynan. The Lady Horns came up with a narrow 47-44 win over the Lady Cats.

Bruce Harper photo
Lady Horn Kaylee Brysch concentrates before her free throw shot at a Jan. 11 game against Skidmore- Tynan. The Longhorn ladies held off the charging S-T girls to preserve the 47-44 victory.

SKIDMORE ­— A third period cold spell almost cost the George West Lady Longhorns the game against the S-T Lady Cats on Friday night, but the GW girls fought through it and emerged with a hard-fought 47-44 win over their district rivals.

“We played well for having to make adjustments at the post when Kaylee Brysch came down off jump ball with her shoulder dislocated,” George West coach Letha Thompson said. “We played as a team and helped each other.”

The Lady ’Horns started well and took a 15-9 lead after at the end of the first period. The taller GW girls dominated inside and controlled the boards. The two teams battled evenly in the second period with both squads nailing 11 points to their side. It was a 26-20 lead for the Lady ’Horns at the half.

The intermission must have gave the Lady Cats a needed boost as the S-T girls erased the six-point lead to grab a slim 34-32 lead heading into the final quarter.

George West refused to fold and regained the lead with about three and a half minutes left to play at 41-40. The Lady Cats never had another lead the rest of the way. The Lady ’Horns used the clock and kept the Lady Cats at bay the rest of the way.

“The (S-T) girls put some great effort in this game. When we were down the girls fought back hard,” said head coach Joseph Grimes III.

“If we continue to play with the intensity and effort we did against GW, we will battle for a playoff spot.”

The S-T girls were led in scoring by Amber Hughlett with 17 points. Courtney Leonard followed with nine markers. Mari Martinez managed eight points.

The Lady ’Horns got 20 points from Bethany Brysch and 10 from Erin Snider. Marley Snider and Kate Jimerson each had six points.

“Skidmore is a good team and we knew we would have to give 100 percent at their house,” Thompson said. “Going into second round we are second in district, and are taking one game at a time.”

The win improves the GW record to 5-2 in district play, while the Lady Cats fall to 4-3 in district and 12-11 on the season.

The JV Lady ’Horns captured the junior varsity contest 28-24 in another close one.

The S-T girls were home against Banquete on Tuesday night and traveled to Taft on Friday night to meet the Lady ’Hounds.

The GW squad meets Taft on Tuesday night and will tangle with Freer on Friday evening.